Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2011-62


Common name:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Scientific name: Sphyrapicus varius
Date: October 21, 2011
Time: mid-day
Length of time observed: 5-10 min.
Number: 1
Age: adult
Sex: female
Location: Beaver Dam Wash upstream of Lytle Ranch
County: Washington
Latilong: 19
Elevation: ~ 850 m
Distance to bird: 4-10 m
Optical equipment: 8 x 42 binoculars
Weather: clear and calm
Light Conditions: full sun
Description:        Size of bird:  
(Description:)       Basic Shape:  
(Description:)  Overall Pattern:  
(Description:)            Bill Type:  
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Medium sized black and white woodpecker. Head with red crown and black-and-white striped face, white stripes on face broader than black stripes. Completely white throat bordered by black malar stripes connecting to large black breast patch. Sides of breast off-white with black vermiculations and belly yellow. Back heavily mottled with buffy off-white feathers dispersed across back. Wings black with large white scapular patch, and black and white secondaries and primaries. Tail black and white.
(see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery: meowing and whining calls
Behavior: Actively foraging and moving about in ashes and cottonwoods
Habitat: Riparian habitat along Beaver Dam Wash
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Distinguished from Red-naped Sapsucker by black and white head pattern (broader white stripes on face), white throat, and white speckling diffused across back.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
yes
References consulted:  
Description from:  
Observer: Rick Fridell
Observer's address: Hurricane, UT
Observer's e-mail address: rfridell@redrock.net
Other observers who independently identified this bird:  
Date prepared: 11-20-2011
Additional material: Photo
Additional_Comments: information copied from field notes